“You folks in the East certainly know how to spread yourselves,” was Cora Dartmore’s comment. “Just look at those beautiful flowers and then at the fierce snowstorm outside.”
“Oh, let us forget the storm!” cried Laura. “It will be time enough to think about that when we have to start for home.”
“That’s the truth!” answered her brother, gaily. “Everybody fall to and do as much damage to the bill-of-fare as possible;” and this remark caused a general smile.
Then the first course was served and soon all of the party were eating and chatting with the greatest of satisfaction.
In the meanwhile, the blizzard––for such it really was––continued to increase in violence. The wind tore along through the woods and down the streets of the town, bringing with it first 106 the heavy chunks of snow and then some hard particles not unlike salt in appearance. The fine snow seemed to creep in everywhere, and, driven by the wind, formed drifts which kept increasing in size steadily.
After the first course of raw oysters, came some cream of celery soup with relishes, and then some roast turkey with cranberry sauce and vegetables. After that the young folks had various kinds of dessert with hot chocolate, and then nuts with raisins.
“What a grand dinner!” remarked Belle, when they were finishing. “Dave, you certainly know how to order the good things.”
“Oh, I had Roger and Phil to help me on that,” returned our hero. “Trust them to order up the good things to eat.”
“And trust Dave to help us get away with them,” sang out the senator’s son, gaily.
“There is only one time when those fellows can’t eat,” retorted Dave. “That is when they are asleep.”